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The 2025 season has not gone the way anyone inside Target Field imagined. Injuries, inconsistency, and missed opportunities left the Twins outside of serious contention, and the frustration has been evident among the fan base.
However, in a recent episode of Inside Twins, Derek Falvey, the president of baseball operations, was asked to give his two-minute pitch to fans on why they should believe that better days are coming. His answers reveal a blueprint for how Minnesota plans to reclaim its position at the top of the AL Central.
Youth Movement
“I think that when I look out at this team and I see a group that's really young, that's still learning, that's still growing, that is going through some pains and moments in time," Falvey said. But I also see a lot of players that are taking those steps forward.”
Falvey’s first point focused on youth, and for good reason. While many veterans on the roster have struggled to stay healthy or consistent, the next wave of Twins talent has been cutting its teeth in the big leagues. That means growing pains, but it also means development. The organization believes this group’s rough patches in 2025 will translate into smoother roads by 2026.
For Minnesota to climb back into contention, those young players will need to show that these lessons are sticking, whether it’s Austin Martin finding his footing, Brooks Lee reaching his full potential, or the pitching depth (Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, etc.) continuing to progress. The losses in 2025 could be the foundation of wins in 2026.
Veterans Finding Consistency
“And I don't see this as a team that maybe is kind of aged out, so to speak, and gotten to the end of the line in their careers," Falvey continued. "I see a lot of guys that are on the front end, that are still climbing, that are still getting better. This month of September has been that opportunity for them.”
One of the most significant differences between the Twins and other clubs hitting reset is that the roster isn’t in decline due to age. Byron Buxton has shown that he is still in his prime. Royce Lewis, Matt Wallner, and others are entering their late 20s, when they should perform at a high level. The rotation is anchored not by veterans at the end of their careers, but by pitchers still working toward their ceiling.
Falvey is banking on the idea that the core has room to grow, rather than being in danger of fading. For a front office that has tried to thread the needle between developing and contending, this is a critical distinction. The Twins clearly believe the team is closer to a rebound than a rebuild.
September baseball has been more about auditions than standings, and Falvey views that as an investment in the future. Giving younger players extended run in meaningful roles (rather than sprinkling them in as depth pieces) sets the stage for a more prepared roster next spring.
The front office knows 2025 tested the patience of fans, but the hope is that those trials accelerate development. Falvey bets that by the time February rolls around, the Twins won’t just be the same group with the same flaws, because they’ll be a more seasoned, battle-tested version of themselves.
The Base of the 2026 Twins
"So I feel really good about the group that we have at the base, and we'll see how the rest of the offseason shakes out going forward," Falvey concluded.
Ultimately, Falvey is selling belief in the foundation, and that’s what every front office must do. The Twins’ base of talent of Buxton, Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Wallner, and a wave of young contributors is enough to dream on. The front office has holes to fill, especially in pitching depth and lineup balance, but they aren’t starting from scratch.
The 2025 season has been frustrating, and fans are justified in feeling disappointed. But Falvey’s message is clear: this isn’t the end of the Twins’ competitive window. The foundation remains strong, the youth is still climbing, and with a healthier roster and a few strategic moves this winter, Minnesota has a path back to October baseball in 2026.
Do you believe in Falvey’s message? Leave a comment and start the discussion.
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